BX23 loosing power after 10-15 mins of use

[wfd2]

I have a BX23 that is loosing power after 10-15 minutes of use. Sometimes it is so bad that it wants to stall trying to move the tractor.

1. I replaced both fuel filters.
2. There is good flow on the tank side of my first filter (just ask my shirt!).
3. I added fresh diesel fuel from a station that sells a lot of it (I put the same fuel out of the same can in my RTV900 and it's fine). However, there was a time when the tank was < 1/4 tank for long periods of time before this problem started.
4. When I replaced the filters, they did have some water in them. But they had 150+ hours on them too.
5. I also checked the filler cap vent by removing the cap when the engine was sputtering, effectively venting the tank. No change.

Any suggestions are welcomed!

wfd2

 

[rbarker]

I have a BX23 that is loosing power after 10-15 minutes of use. Sometimes it is so bad that it wants to stall trying to move the tractor.

1. I replaced both fuel filters.
2. There is good flow on the tank side of my first filter (just ask my shirt!).
3. I added fresh diesel fuel from a station that sells a lot of it (I put the same fuel out of the same can in my RTV900 and it's fine). However, there was a time when the tank was < 1/4 tank for long periods of time before this problem started.
4. When I replaced the filters, they did have some water in them. But they had 150+ hours on them too.
5. I also checked the filler cap vent by removing the cap when the engine was sputtering, effectively venting the tank. No change.

Any suggestions are welcomed!

wfd2

Wow that's a mystery. Does it matter wether whether the tractor is under a load or not?

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[Tollster]

You mention moving the tractor, does it idle and throttle up ok? If so, I would check the hydro screen, and change the hydro fluid and filter perhaps.

 

[JasG]

My L3240 did something similar and it took a few months of searching to find the cause. Mine got so bad it blew white smoke from time to time. This all started after I changed my fuel filter because the one on it was installed wrong.

Seems the auto bleeding doesn't always work correctly and you can get air into the injection pump. A diesel injection repair shop actually told me about the problem and why each time I played around with it I was making the issue worse. Always would happen after the tractor had run for 10-15 minutes. The pump is "emissions certified" and doesn't bleed air once it's in it most of the time. If you loosen the nuts on top of the pump it can screw it up, but that is one solution to bleed it. So what they said I could try was to get the tractor on a slope, pump on the up side of the slope. Then open the bleed screw and let it sit for a while. I did this 3-4 times and had the front end both up and down slope. I would also start the tractor with the bleed screw open shut it off and let it sit some more.

The reason for parking both up and down slope slightly is the pump is bored at an angle to get to the 3 injection ports.

This finally worked and now I have put 40 trouble free hours on the tractor, after 20 hours of poor running and working on the tractor.

I hope I explained this clear enough.

 

[wfd2]

Hi Bob,

It doesn't matter whether it's under load or not. In fact, when this is happening I can't even throttle up sitting still.

 

[wfd2]

Tollster,

This happens when the tractor is sitting still as well. It won't throttle up when this is happening.

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Are you hearing the fuel pump clicking when turning the key and before starting?

 

[wfd2]

Are you hearing the fuel pump clicking when turning the key and before starting?

Yes, I am. Runs fine for 10-15 minutes then starts to loose power. If I turn it off and try to restart it, it will start but it will continue to sputter. After it cools, it will run again for 10-15 minutes and the cycle starts all over again.

 

[wfd2]

There is an electronic lift pump under the BX23. If this pump is failing when it gets hot (maybe after 10-15 mins of use) would the tractor exhibit this behavior?

 

[oldnslo]

There is an electronic lift pump under the BX23. If this pump is failing when it gets hot (maybe after 10-15 mins of use) would the tractor exhibit this behavior?

I was thinking the same thing. Depending on failure mode I don't know if the main injector pump could pull fuel through both filters and the bad lift pump. When it starts acting up could you pull the hose off that feeds the injector pump and just turn the key to on and see if the lift pump is moving fuel.

 

[wfd2]

OK, back to basics. I retraced my steps and found an important note.

When my wife "almost" ran it out of fuel, I asked her which can she used. I think she put about 1/2 gallon of gas into the BX. Unknowingly, I filled her up with diesel.

Would the tractor do this (run fine for 10 or so minutes, then sputter) if 1/2 gallon of gas was mixed with 6 or so gallons of diesel? I smelled the filler hole and it does indeed smell like gas.

My theory is diesel is heavier than gas and in 10 or so mins the gas gets mixed throughout the tank. Then it stars to get sucked into pump and burned.

 

[bellweather]

See what happens if you completely drain the tank and refill with diesel...

 

[oldnslo]

OK, back to basics. I retraced my steps and found an important note.

When my wife "almost" ran it out of fuel, I asked her which can she used. I think she put about 1/2 gallon of gas into the BX. Unknowingly, I filled her up with diesel.

Would the tractor do this (run fine for 10 or so minutes, then sputter) if 1/2 gallon of gas was mixed with 6 or so gallons of diesel? I smelled the filler hole and it does indeed smell like gas.

My theory is diesel is heavier than gas and in 10 or so mins the gas gets mixed throughout the tank. Then it stars to get sucked into pump and burned.

No, a 1/2 gallon in a 6 gallon tank you won't even notice any difference in performance. My dad a VW Dasher diesel and owners manual stated to use up to 25% gas mix for winter time use.

 

[swatter]

Well I am not a expert on Diesel engines but I would say yeh drain the tank. The engine was not designed to run on gas and ethanol. What is 20 bucks of fuel compared to a new engine.

 

[rbarker]

Well I am not a expert on Diesel engines but I would say yeh drain the tank. The engine was not designed to run on gas and ethanol. What is 20 bucks of fuel compared to a new engine.

Well I hesitate to disagree with oldnslo because I am no expert and he could be completely correct. However, I just keep coming back to a fuel issue due to the symptoms and it was fine and now it's not. The only thing different is the wife factor so if it were me I'd absolutely drain all the fuel and start fresh. At this point we are just guessing so we might as well eliminate one more possibility.

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[dodge man]

How much exactly did she add? Was it more like 2 or 3 gallons? I don't think a half gallon would cause the problem, but if it was more it might. I agree, dump the fuel and put in new.

 

[radioman]

From google: Ethanol emulsion can be mixed with diesel fuel provided there is little water in the ethanol. A diesel engine normally will not operate on ethanol nor will ethanol provide lubrication for the fuel injection system. Another problem with adding ethanol to diesel fuel is that the cetane number (ignition characteristic) may decrease below the level recommended by the engine manufacturer.

I'd be draining it completely and replace filters again. The ethanol likes to suck moisture in a can and can cause issues so mixing it in your tractor can make a mess for you. No offense, but I dont even trust my wife to tell me the truth. Its easier on your marriage if you just drain your tank and put fresh diesel in it. I don't want to have a what if or blame game in my head for time to come, so drain it to be on the safe side. Diesel is cheap. engines and divorces are not.

 

[wfd2]

I just wanted to follow-up with everyone who was kind enough to share their experience and time with me. I did in fact drain the tank and replaced the filters (again) and found that with fresh diesel the tractor runs great. I'm blaming the gas in the diesel fuel. All is well now but I still would not have thought that it would run fine for 10-15 minutes then degrade like it did. Thanks all!

 

[rbarker]

I just wanted to follow-up with everyone who was kind enough to share their experience and time with me. I did in fact drain the tank and replaced the filters (again) and found that with fresh diesel the tractor runs great. I'm blaming the gas in the diesel fuel. All is well now but I still would not have thought that it would run fine for 10-15 minutes then degrade like it did. Thanks all!

Thanks for the update and glad you got it sorted out.

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